politics

Japan, S Korea leaders look to deepen ties, despite strains

38 Comments
By MARI YAMAGUCHI

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38 Comments
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The politicians love to posture for the nationalists in both countries and animosity helps justify transferring public tax money as corporate welfare to the military industries, while in fact Korea and Japan have deep economic, cultural and social ties, regardless of the leaders' phone call pecking order.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

Better to wait till after the elections

By The Way Author just changing the wording to use "called on" Doesn't change the fact that he said URGED "South Korea to take “concrete, firm action” 

Kishida the urging calling on does nothing caretaker leader

-4 ( +3 / -7 )

Ready? And, “Action!”: - “Get me the J PM on the line, NOW!” -

SKPres. Moon presumedly mouthed for the photographers just before the dial up.

-photo caption: “South Korean President Moon Jae-in talks on the phone with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida”

-1 ( +5 / -6 )

Good call, (pun intended) @warispeace 7:02am:

*- “**The [J & SK] politicians love to posture for the nationalists in both countries and animosity helps justify transferring public tax money…” *

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

This has been stated over and over again for many years with absolutely no success at all.

11 ( +11 / -0 )

Japan needs to grow up and stop lying. Until then, you won't get any respect like Germany does from its neighbours.

https://www.ilo.org/dyn/normlex/en/f?p=NORMLEXPUB:13100:0::NO::P13100_COMMENT_ID:2218404

-10 ( +8 / -18 )

Words are just hot air, actions speak louder.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Japan, S Korea leaders look to deepen ties...

It's not going to happen anytime soon, perhaps never.

7 ( +11 / -4 )

Differences of perceptions and values come from differences of histories, education, religions etc. - constituting characters of nations and their people. Accordingly, people of Japan and S. Korea have different characteristics. Japan and S. Korea are both considered democratic countries but their democracies are very different from the standards of U.S. and other western countries. I feel they are more reasonable. Let's play more rationally and respect differences of other country than insisting one's own demand to other countries.

3 ( +6 / -3 )

Moon claims to want to repair ties when his administration dissolved the comfort women fund that Japan started, threatened to pull out of GSOMIA, then lied about consulting the U.S. on GSOMIA. The week after Trump met with Kim Jong Un for the first time, South Korea cancelled its joint military drill along the border, yet it still did its regular drill on the Liancourt Rocks in case of an “invasion from Japan.” 

Nothing Moon has done has shown any indication of wanting to deepen ties.

13 ( +16 / -3 )

Both talk to their domestic audience, not each other.

-3 ( +4 / -7 )

@Tom Doley

Japan needs to grow up and stop lying. Until then, you won't get any respect like Germany does from its neighbours

First, Japan is grown up enough. At least Japan does not renege on treaties, as South Korea in fact did with the 1965 treaty.

Second, Japan is respected by many neighbours like Vietnam, Indonesia and Taiwan.

Third, Germany is respected, but not by all neighbours. The relationship between Germany and Poland pretty much reminds the relationship between Japan and South Korea, with constant demands for reparations and compensations. It's just a business model for Poland and SK to get extra money and deflect attention from internal problems.

8 ( +12 / -4 )

Japan needs to grow up and stop lying. Until then, you won't get any respect like Germany does from its neighbours.

South Korea needs to grow up and stop lying or rather chose to be ruled by the tyrant in North as soon as possible, which would make the situation simple for Japan to decide on how to deal with the peninsula.

8 ( +14 / -6 )

Photo caption competition material! Great shot.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

South Korea needs to recognize that Japan both directly and indirectly is an Ally. One that helped defend South Korea fron North Korea (and China, USSR) in 1950.

"Japan’s participation in the Korean War is not a secret. It helped defend South Korea, sending crews and minesweepers into actual combat during the crucial first six months of that war."

Remembering the Korean War: Japanese Blood Was Shed in the Defense of South Korea | JAPAN Forward (japan-forward.com)

South Korea's revionist history and perpetual hatred towards Japan works against it's own interests. Instead of aligning with a fellow democatuc Asian nation, South Korea dances to China and North Korea's tune.

8 ( +13 / -5 )

One of the best ways to improve their bilateral ties would be for South Korea to stop being so demanding of Japan while Japan also stops its snobbish "I am better than thou" attitude to South Korea. Then case closed. I wish you all the best of luck in Japan-Korea love relations.

-5 ( +4 / -9 )

while Japan also stops its snobbish "I am better than thou" attitude to South Korea. Then case closed.

Never heard of, nor seen, nor read Japan's such attitude. Perhaps is it based on personal experience?

7 ( +13 / -6 )

Moon said to Kishida over the phone " There is a difference in legal interpretation on 1965 treaty"

despite 1965 treaty clearly stipulated what should be done when such legal interpretation arises later.

Perhaps, South Korean leaders can not read language. The greatest South Korean justice under such a ideal separation of powers cannot either.

What a comedy gold

9 ( +13 / -4 )

This Moon is really a great guy. He does Moon-walking, pretends walking forward but in fact moving backward. That way he broke all the Japan-SK relations one by one and now Japan-SK relation has become the best ever for Japan. Let's stay that way.

9 ( +12 / -3 )

It makes sense for both countries to cooperate, since they share common defense interests.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

I will repeat that the 1965 treaty was foisted upon the South Korea people by the U.S., Japan and South Korea's dictator, a former operative of the annexed Korea's pro-Japanese Korean quasi-rulers under the Japanese colonialists. It has no moral validity.

At this point the Japan LDP rulers still see South Korea as an underling. It is in fact an equal. Its universities are better than Japan's. It is becoming a formidable industrial power. It has real political plurality.

It's for Japan to catch up on what South Korea is now.

-15 ( +1 / -16 )

"South Korea's revionist history and perpetual hatred towards Japan works against it's own interests. Instead of aligning with a fellow democatuc Asian nation, South Korea dances to China and North Korea's tune."

Not true at all. You are just following what the news said. South Korea is pro-USA & pro-Japan. Period!

-12 ( +1 / -13 )

Does anybody really think South Korea is anti-Japan? I'm in Seoul, Korea now and I am surprised there are more pro-Japanese than anti-Japanese in Korea.

-10 ( +2 / -12 )

I will repeat that the 1965 treaty was foisted upon the South Korea people by the U.S., Japan and South Korea's dictator, a former operative of the annexed Korea's pro-Japanese Korean quasi-rulers under the Japanese colonialists. It has no moral validity.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Michael Jun Sung ShimToday  08:01 pm JST

Does anybody really think South Korea is anti-Japan? I'm in Seoul, Korea now and I am surprised there are more pro-Japanese than anti-Japanese in Korea.

Just read through the anti-Japan posts in this thread here. Maybe you want to respond to them.

11 ( +12 / -1 )

This is not if. Without US, a country called South Korea would not have existed.

So, that was not what we wanted. Yeah. I see.

Perhaps, South Korean president and the greatest South Korean courts under the ideal separated powers should rather point out what this poster has mentioned as reasons for all these Korean tantrums.

Make it simple.

13 ( +14 / -1 )

Didn’t a great man once say “*Two wrongs don’t make a right.” *?

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Japanese leader are tone deaf politically, going to the shrine,as a imperial Shinto cult initiation do not help

-10 ( +1 / -11 )

Agreements are not Temporary Jeancolmar. 1965 aggrement was not Temporary. Japan did not sign it as such either. It was permanent and forever it says so In the agreement.

Doesn't matter what Excuses you make for past Korean governments. People will never be 100% happy with any agreement especially historical issues.

South Korea took almost a decade to write down all their demands and compensation in the 1965 aggrement.

Even if we bypass the 1965 aggrement then we end up in 2015 comfort Women agreement which S. Korea still not happy about and backed away in 2017 under Moon.

Lame excuses don't work anymore.

13 ( +14 / -1 )

Does anybody really think South Korea is anti-Japan? I'm in Seoul, Korea now and I am surprised there are more pro-Japanese than anti-Japanese in Korea.

A survey in South Korea found that almost half of all South Koreans would side with North Korea in a war against Japan, while 40% said "I don't know".

Another survey found that South Koreans view Abe more negatively than Kim Jong Un, a dictator who imprisons entire families, gives death sentences to his own officers, and executes people in public.

When Japan removed South Korea from its whitelist two years ago, Koreans marched into the streets in protest. One group tried to break into the Japanese embassy in Busan. Gas stations refused to refuel Japanese cars. The district of Gyeonggi proposed putting stickers on Japanese products in all classrooms essentially stating, “This device was made by a war criminal”.

9 ( +11 / -2 )

I will repeat that the 1965 treaty was foisted upon the South Korea people by the U.S., Japan and South Korea's dictator, a former operative of the annexed Korea's pro-Japanese Korean quasi-rulers under the Japanese colonialists. It has no moral validity.

You forgot to add that 2015 agreement was foisted upon the South Korea people by the U.S., Japan and the daughter of former South Korea's dictator, a former operative of the annexed Korea's pro-Japanese Korean quasi-rulers under the Japanese colonialists. It has no moral validity.

*And maybe this too. 1910 treaty was foisted upon the Imperial Korea people by Japan and then-Korean Prime Minister Ye Wanyong and all those Chinilpa from Iljinhoe, the biggest Korean political organization during days. It has no moral validity.*

9 ( +11 / -2 )

Poor South Korea is really the only real democracy in North East Asia

The CCP in China and the Kim family North Korea are basically dictatorships and in Japan you've had one party rule by the LDP. Japan is sometimes described as just North Korea but with money.

For example, Korea's International Press freedom Ranking is 42, higher than the US, much higher than Japan's ranking at 67 which is extremely low.

-13 ( +1 / -14 )

The fact that the Prime Minister of Japan and his cabinet including his minister of Defense expressed no remorse for the atrocities committed by the imperial Japanese army puts them sadly in the same class as the war criminals that are shamefully enshrined at Yasukini. 

This is the unfortunate state of political affairs in Japan, 2021. 

I think now the key question needs to be asked whether Japan is really a developed country that belongs in the G7. 

Based upon their lack of remorse Japan no longer possesses the required moral authority and qualifications to be in the G7

-13 ( +1 / -14 )

You forgot to add that 2015 agreement was foisted upon the South Korea people by the U.S., Japan and the daughter of former South Korea's dictator, a former operative of the annexed Korea's pro-Japanese Korean quasi-rulers under the Japanese colonialists. It has no moral validity.

I almost forgot to stress the fact the 2015 agreement was closed by the then-political administration led by the the daughter of former *South Korea's dictator,* who was democratically elected by the greatest South Korean citizens.

*Poor South Korea is really the only real democracy in North East Asia

The result of what you call real democracy flips the table over like this. Something wrong with your democracy. Perhaps, your greatest Korean people might want to learn to take responsibility for what your democratically-chosen-leaders decided to do for you, the greatest Korean people?

Are you willing to claim like this for ever?

For example, Korea's International Press freedom Ranking is 42, higher than the US, much higher than Japan's ranking at 67 which is extremely low.

Good for you, higher than US of America, and much higher than Japan unless you forget you have 41 countries above you.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Japan says Korea doesn’t keep her word but what is it when Japanese politicians apologize then go to Yasukini a shrine to fascism?

any apologies or agreements in the future need to be passed by the legislators of each country.

-6 ( +2 / -8 )

The fact that Koreans are complaining to Japan about the damage is in itself shameless.

A school was built, and furthermore, if they wished, they could go to school on the Japanese mainland. If a new school building was built, the Koreans could use the new building.

The school also had school trips and high school baseball games, just like in the anime, and you could even become an athlete!

Various industries were also developed. Agriculture, industry, dairy farming such as wool industry, medical services such as pharmacies and midwives, various commercial activities such as cafeterias and car dealers, theaters and cinemas, newspapers, and postal services.

All of these were not available during the reign of the Korean dynasty.

It is completely different from the world where places to live etc. were completely divided between whites and blacks.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

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